Why I Hate Rush

"I don't like their music because it appears devoid of any outside influence. Rush plays so precise but without any passion-- it is like their music was made in a vacuum sealed off from all human exposure. When I hear a band I like, the Stones or U2 or Wilco, I can hear generations of musical influence. With Rush, I hear a bunch of soul-less robots. Maybe that comes from being a Canadian band where there are not many black people and it's too freaking cold to go outside or something."

Interesting, the premise of the OP's argument is that Rush are bad because they have an original sound and they're from Canada

I couldn't disagree more with your statement that Rush plays without any passion. I suggest you catch one of their shows. I think perhaps they simply are not the style of music you enjoy. Also, what does the black population or the weather of Canada have to do with whether you enjoy the music of Rush?

You know your right about the talent but as I read more isaid out loud

"You really have no idea what your talking about do you? Don't add up your on that same BS trip I hear from other people who attach to certain stupid aspects of the band which are trivial.so again....

"You really have no idea what your talking about?"

The band is just so unique not to like name me one band that sounds like them......that's right not a one

But everyone got their own trip and I got respect for all even this post and if my words my be raw I'm just speaking from the heart

"I don't like their music because it appears devoid of any outside influence. Rush plays so precise but without any passion-- it is like their music was made in a vacuum sealed off from all human exposure."

Essentially you're disliking them for having a sound of their own creation. Interesting...., and also, unless Nels Cline is playing, Wilco puts me to sleep faster than three doses of valium

" Maybe that comes from being a Canadian band where there are not many black people and it's too freaking cold to go outside or something."

What an agonizingly stupid and ignorant argument. It's wrong on so many levels, so I'm not going to address any of them.

"Plus, there lyrics are incredibly heavy-handed--no nuance, nothing left to the imagination."

Ok, this is mostly true. Neil's lyrics are heavy-handed at times, but they are often cryptic and left up to the listener to interpret. This leaves plenty to the imagination. Furthermore, even though people criticize Neil's lyrical approach for being too nerdy, heavy-handed and intellectual, I think he finds his own niche in that respect. There plenty of tortured rock poets singing songs about relationships, depression, politics, etc. There are plenty of songs that follow the "Baby, baby" narrative. Rush were sort of like that in their early days with John Rutsey.

Other than that, you're first two stabs were ridiculous

Alex Lifeson plays with more soul than any guitar player I've ever heard, and it's not even close

Ironically, Geddy and Neil get most of the accolades, but it's Alex that really gives the band it's soul and emotional sound, musically. I can see how a lot of people would have the OP's point of view, mainly due to Rush's lyrics. I do find a lot of the lyrics to be soulless and hard to get pumped up about. But Alex's guitar tone is the best in the world. Listen to Jacob's Ladder, La Villa Strangiato, Red Barchetta, Leave that thing Alone, Hemispheres, or 2112 and you will hear some amazing guitar work that has more "feel" than anything I've heard.

If not for Alex, i think Rush could easily have gone down the Dream Theater road of simply playing stuff that's technically really hard, but without emotion or feel.

You have to listen to these guys a few times to really hear that emotion, but once it clicks, then get ready to start to obsess

I can understand that. I dig the Stones but have always despised U2. To me, all their stuff sounds the same, with that dripping ooze of politics - uggh. So I think a lot of it just comes down to what someone really likes on a personal level.

RUSH RULZ!!!